• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.215-223
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• 2016

Purpose: The management of metal-induced field inhomogeneities is one of the major concerns of distortion-free magnetic resonance images near metallic implants. The recently proposed method called "Slice Encoding for Metal Artifact Correction (SEMAC)" is an effective spin echo pulse sequence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) near metallic implants. However, as SEMAC uses the noisy resolved data elements, SEMAC images can have a major problem for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without compromising the correction of metal artifacts. To address that issue, this paper presents a novel reconstruction technique for providing an improvement of the SNR in SEMAC images without sacrificing the correction of metal artifacts. Materials and Methods: Low-rank approximation in each coil image is first performed to suppress the noise in the slice direction, because the signal is highly correlated between SEMAC-encoded slices. Secondly, SEMAC images are reconstructed by the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE), also known as Gauss-Markov or weighted least squares. Noise levels and correlation in the receiver channels are considered for the sake of SNR optimization. To this end, since distorted excitation profiles are sparse, $l_1$ minimization performs well in recovering the sparse distorted excitation profiles and the sparse modeling of our approach offers excellent correction of metal-induced distortions. Results: Three images reconstructed using SEMAC, SEMAC with the conventional two-step noise reduction, and the proposed image denoising for metal MRI exploiting sparsity and low rank approximation algorithm were compared. The proposed algorithm outperformed two methods and produced 119% SNR better than SEMAC and 89% SNR better than SEMAC with the conventional two-step noise reduction. Conclusion: We successfully demonstrated that the proposed, novel algorithm for SEMAC, if compared with conventional de-noising methods, substantially improves SNR and reduces artifacts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society Conference
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.80-80
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• 2002

MnPSO-34 and Mn-impregnated SAPO-34 (Mn-SAPO-34) sample were prepared with various manganese contents and studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron spin-echo modulation (ESEM). Electron spin-echo modulation analysis of 0.07mol ％ Mn(relative to p) in MnAPSO-34 with adsorbed D$_2$O shows two deuteriums at 0.25 nm and two at 0.36 nm from Mn. This suggests that two waters hydrate an MnO4 configuration with a D-O bond orientation for the waters as expect for a negatively charged site at low manganese content (0.07 mol％), the ESR spectra of MnAPSO-34 and MnH-SAPO-34 exhibit the same parameters (g 2.02 and A 87 G), but the spectra obtained from MnAPSO-34 samples are better resolved. TGA of as-synthesized MnAPSO-34 shows that the decomposition temperature in the range 200-$600^{\circ}C$ of the morpholine is 12$^{\circ}C$ higher than that in as-synthesized MnH-SAPO-34. Infrared spectra shows that the position of a band at about 15 cm-1 toward higher energy in MnAPSO-34 versus MnH-SAPO-34. The modulation depth of the two-pulse ESE of MnAPSO-34 with absorbed D$_2$O is deeper than that of MnH-SAPO-34 with absorbed D$_2$O. Three-pulse ESEM of MnAPSO-34 and MnH-SAPO-34 with absorbed deuterium oxide shows that the local environments of manganese in the hydrated samples are different, suggesting that Mn(II) is framework substituted in MnAPSO-34 since it obviously occupies an extra-framework position in MnH-SAPO-34

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.160-166
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• 2016

To provide a basis for a homogeneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) immunoassay for celiac disease, we carried out a FRET experiment using guinea pig tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and antibodies to tTG (anti-tTG) purified from rat serum. Fluorescein was utilized as the probe, and a nonfluorescent dye, QSY 7 served as the quencher. We labeled anti-tTG and tTG with fluorescein isothiocyanate and QSY 7 succinimidyl ester, respectively. Fluorescein-labeled anti-tTG was the donor, and QSY 7-labeled tTG was the acceptor of the FRET experiment. When we titrated fluorescein-labeled anti-tTG with QSY 7-labeled tTG, we observed a large decrease in the steady-state fluorescence intensity, which was due to strong FRET from fluorescein-labeled anti-tTG to QSY 7-labeled tTG. Using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, we could also observe a decrease in the fluorescence lifetime, which confirms the steady-state data. We expect that these results might be useful in the development of a novel fluorescence immunoassay for an easy screening and follow-up of celiac patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.296-298
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• 2011

Spinal intradural cysticercosis is a rare manifestation of neurocysticercosis. We report a unique patient who showed visual symptoms and normal imaging of the brain caused by isolated spinal neurocysticercosis. A 59-year-old male patient was admitted to the emergency unit with a history of severe headache and progressive blurred vision. Brain computed tomographic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging showed normal cerebral anatomy without hydrocephalus. The fundoscopic evaluation by an ophthalmologist showed bilateral papilledema. Perimetry studies revealed visual field defects in both eyes. With the diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri, a lumbar tap was attempted; however, we could not drain the cerebrospinal fluid in spite of appropriate attempts. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging revealed multilevel intraspinal lesions that were confirmed histologically to be neurocysticercosis. An intraoperative lumbar puncture revealed an increased opening pressure and cytochemical analysis showed elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level. The headache resolved immediately after surgery. However, the visual symptoms remained and recovered only marginally despite antihelminthic medications after six months of operation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.967-970
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• 2003

A new modified singular value decomposition method, piecewise polynomial truncated SVD (PPTSVD), which was originally developed to identify discontinuity of the earth's radial density function, has been used for large solvent peak suppression and noise elimination in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal processing. PPTSVD consists of two algorithms of truncated SVD (TSVD) and L₁ problems. In TSVD, some unwanted large solvent peaks and noise are suppressed with a certain soft threshold value, whereas signal and noise in raw data are resolved and eliminated in L₁ problems. These two algorithms were systematically programmed to produce high quality of NMR spectra, including a better solvent peak suppression with good spectral line shapes and better noise suppression with a higher signal to noise ratio value up to 27% spectral enhancement, which is applicable to multidimensional NMR data processing.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.252-255
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• 2018

A 51-year-old male who is right-handed visited the outpatient for right fingers-drop. The patient's fingers, including thumb, were not extended on metacarpophalangeal joint. The active motion of the right wrist was available. The electromyography and nerve conduction velocity study were consistent with the posterior interosseous neuropathy. Further evaluation was done with the magnetic resonance imaging for finding the space-occupying lesion or any possible soft tissue lesion around the radial nerve pathway. On magnetic resonance imaging, the ganglion cyst, which was about 1.8 cm in diameter, was observed on the proximal part of the superficial layer of the supinator muscle (Arcade of Frohse). The surgical excision was done on the base of ganglion cyst at the base of stalk of cyst which looked to be connected with proximal radioulnar joint capsule. The palsy had completely resolved when the patient was observed on the outpatient department a month after the operation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.206-211
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• 2022

Stenosis of the central veins is a common complication in hemodialysis patients. However, cerebral venous hypertension and neurological symptoms caused by central vein stenosis are relatively rare. We present a rare case of cerebral venous hypertension in a 63-year-old male who showed venous reflux into the dural sinuses due to central venous stenosis on time-of-flight MR angiography. After management for central venous stenosis, the venous reflux disappeared.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.105-114
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• 2006

Purpose: We achieved high resolution MR imaging and spectra of human skin in vitro with using a 14.1 T MRI/MRS system, and evaluated the hydration effect of various cosmetic products by measuring the skin's. moisture concentration. Materials and Methods: We used the Bruker 14.1 T MRI/MRS system with a vertical standard bore that was equipped with a DMX spectrometer gradient system (200 G/cm at a maximum 40 A), RF resonators (2, 5 and 10 mm) and Para Vision software. Spin echo and fast spin echo pulse sequences were employed for obtaining the high resolution MR images. The 3D-localized point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) method was used to acquire the MR spectra. Results: The high resolution MR images and spectra of human skin in vitro were successfully obtained on a 14.1 T system. The water concentration of human skin after applying a moisturizer was higher than that before applying a moisturizer. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that the high-resolution MR images and spectra of human skin from a high field NMR instrument could be applicable to evaluating the hydration state of the stratum corneum.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2000

Objective : Asymptomatic cyst of the pineal gland is a common incidental finding in adults on computerized tomography or magnetic resonance image(MRI) or at postmortem examination. This study was conducted to identify MRI findings of the benign pineal cysts and to determine the proper management of asymptomatic pineal cysts. Methods : From January 1995 to March 1999, 13 cases of asymptomatic pineal cysts were diagnosed incidentally on MRI. The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 43 years(ranged 8 to 69 years). Five patients were females and eight patients were males. We analyzed the clinical presentations and MRI findings. Results : Clincal features were not related to pineal cysts in all 13 cases included posttraumatic headache in seven cases, headache related to brain tumor in two cases, one of facial palsy, one of diabetic neuropathy, and two of other diseases. MRI demonstrated a well-demarcated mass lesion(mean 1.3cm in diameter) of low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI, performed in 10 cases, demonstrated a rim enhancement. Hydrocephalus was not present in all cases. Follow-up MRI(ranged 12 to 36 months) obtained in 3 of the 13 patients showed stability of cyst size. After symptomatic treatment, presenting symptoms were resolved in all patients and symptom related to pineal cysts have not been developed during follow up period(mean 27 months). Conclusion : The long-term behavior of asymptomatic pineal cysts is still unknown. But we advocate conservative management of these benign pineal cysts that may be developmental variants of normal pineal gland.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2003

Multi-channel images of 11-MUA(11-Mercaptoundecanoic acid) and 11-MUOH(11-Mercaptoundecanol) self-assembled monolayers were obtained by using two-dimensional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption. The patterning process was simplified by exploiting direct photo-oxidation of thiol bonding (photolysis) instead of conventional photolithography. Sharper images were resolved by using a white light source in combination with a narrow bandpass filter in the visible region, minimizing the diffraction patterns on the images. The line profile calibration of the image contrast caused by different resonance conditions at each point on the sensor surface (at a fixed incident angle) enables us to discriminate the monolayer thickness in nanometer scale. Furthermore, there is no signal degradation such as photo bleaching or quenching, which are common in the detection methods based on fluorescence.